Ice tray grid



C. R. CARNEY ICE TRAY GRID July 26, 1949.

Filed Oct. 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 'CLIFFORD R. CARNEY BY A Tram/5v I July 26, 1949. c. R. CARNEY 2,477,286

ICE TRAY GRID.

Filed Oct. 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENITOR. CLIFFORD R. CARNEY 6 A TTORNEY Patented July 26, 1949 ICE TRAY GRID Clifford R. Carney, Miami, Fla., assignor to Cellon I Corporation, Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application October 10, 1946, Serial No. 702,496

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to ice tray grids and more particularly to ice tray grids which are removable from an ice tray, and which may be readily operated, either separately or as a unit, to secure the release of ice cubes therefrom.

The problem of freeing ice cubes from a tray in which they are frozen in a conventional type of mechanical refrigerator is one which has been long present in this art. Grids having rigid partitioning members, certain of which are movable relative to other of the members for the purpose of breaking the adhesion between the ice cubes and the rigid elements of the grid construction have been suggested previously as a solution to this problem. In such prior grids, the grid mechanism and the ice when frozen present a rigid mass in which the grid is locked rigidly in the ice block and the articulation of the grid elements is destroyed. The adhesion of the ice to the various portions of the grid members renders these grids immobile to the extent that they are for all partical purposes a rigid grid structure at the beginning of the ice breaking operation. In order to free such grids from the ice cubes, it is necessary to apply a force thereto of sufiicient magnitude to move one of the movable grid members relative to the other grid members, and after having thus initated the ice-freeing movement, to then follow it with movement of other of the grid members. This requires operation of the movable grid elements in a pre-determined sequence.

As distinguished from such previously known types of grids, the grid of the present invention is composed of a plurality of separate elements freely joined together in such a manner that any one of the grid members may be freely actuated at any time by a lifting force applied to the top portion thereof to provide a fracturing f the ice block, the freeing of cubes therefrom, and the ejection of the ice cubes from the grid and pan.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an ice tray grid structure having a plurality of transverse grid members each movable relative to the other grid members and loosely held for movement in their assembled position by a cam slot in the longitudinal partition member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ice tray grid structure in which the longitudinal separator is formed of a plurality of members, the end portions of which are joined during the assembly of the grid to lock the transraise-members intheir assembled positions in cam slots, provided in said longitudinal member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ice tray grid formed of a plurality of separate rigid elements so united in the assembled structure that each element is relatively movable with respect to the other elements making up. the composite structure, and in which relative movement is initiated in the grid while frozen in an ice blockby a, lifting force applied to the top portion of the transverse grid member to-effect movement thereof relative to the longitudinal gridmember in a path determined by a cam slot provided in the longitudinal member which contacts a cam element aiiixed to the transverse member. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ice tray grid constructed of a plurality of separate rigid grid elements loosely joined for relative movement of the parts relative to each other in directions determined by the shape and size of cam slots in the longitudinal element which guide the movement of the transverse members when a lifting force is applied thereto to cause the ready fracture of the ice blockin the pan or tray into a plurality of separate cubes, and the release of the grid structure therefrom.

Other objects of this invention will appear. in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is 'a top plan view showing an ice; tray grid of the present invention in position in an ice tray."". Fig.2 is a section taken substantially on the ine 2+2 in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 1, and showing the grid in position in the pan for freezing of ice therein. I v

Fig. 3 is a. view similar to Fig. 2 but shows the movement of certain of the grid members to ice freeing position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 4 -4 in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 3. a

Fig. 5 is atop plan view of a modified form of grid embodying the present invention mounted in atray in the position for freezing ic therein.

Fig. .6 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 66 in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 5. '..Fig..f7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing- 3 the parts of the grid in the raised positions for freeing ice therefrom.

Fig. 8 is a. partial section taken substantially on the line 88 in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a lifting tool for use in connection with an ice tray grid of the present inventibn and showing a p'ortibn of; the handle broken away.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention not limited in its application to the details of.- con.- struction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention; is capable of other embofiinerits and of being practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also it is to be understood that the: phtaseoiegy or" terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

A grid embodying the present invention is designechtohe: placed; in. an. ice tray orpam lit at anrconventional: type adapted; to be placed. in the: chamber of a mechanical: refrigerator. The interior'of the tray I56: is subdividett into a plurality of: smaller compartments by means on the grid: member, which; illii the present. instance=, comprises; a: longitudinab member |T|- and a plurality of transverse members l2. The longitudinal: grid member Mfcomprises a. top member. b3 a lower member: in; which. are: icineds at. their: ends in any suitable: manner, as by. rivets t and. t6. A1. plurality. of slots lz'li are provided in the assembled longitudinal: members... The slots i=1! act as camslots and". are curved as shown. The transverse members? l=2 are each providedi with. a. rounded cam. follower 18 which contacts with, at face at the curved cam: slot. l1. When a lifting force is applied to: tha top of the transverse grid membersi2 inn example, bythe end. mi of. the handle. 20.. as shown it Big; 3; tbeprojection. 1:8 movessinr the: cam slot lb and: causes the transverse grid. member 1-2 to move verticall t and.a longitudinally of; the grid. This component of. movement not onlyfrees; the gridirom the iceblock. but also. exerts: a lifting force onthe iceblock-causing.ittoberaised andejected from the pan, as indicated in the. dotted line portion of Fig. 3a

As. shown in. Fig. 4, each of. the transverse members. I is; provided; with. a. slot 24 whichis positioned abovethe, top. portion. [3. of. the. longitudinal' member lTl'. Thusaliitingforce may. be exerted by the end f9, oitlie handle 2'0" by, con.- tact with the slot 21' in the transverse members l2. The, handle, as here shown in Figs. 3 and 9'; is adapted to be applied. successively. to each of the separate transverse grid members l2 as shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive. As showmin Fig. 9;; the end Iii-of the handle llrcompri'ses' a fiat pontion- 22 which is adapted: to engage the slot 2 in each of the transverse members (2. The flat portion 22 terminates ina curved portion 23 w-hicir contacts" the top portion' of longitudinal; gm'd member I las shown irrFig: 3- and provides a fulcrum at that point; The" rounded portion 23 of the handle provided with a flat face-2H5 whioh=may exert a pushing f'orceonthe transverse grid members 12 immediateiwfbllbwingsthezapplieation or the liftingforce thereto:

Thmconstruction shownin Figs; 5213a 8 inch sire: is; substantially the: sarm as the structure shown. inlFi'gs 1; to: 4 inclusive; except-that a longitudinally" extending ban 30 is placed above the member l3 forming the top portion of the longitudinal; gridlelement; Ma. The ban manber 30, as shown in Fig. 8, extends through all of the aligned openings 2| in the transverse grid members I2. When in the position shown in Fig. 6, the actuating bar 30 lies on top of the member l3 forming the top portion of the longitudinal grid member I and each of the transverse members l2 occupy an angular position relative to the bottom of the pan to. The: cam. members It! are-in contact with the curved portion ofthe cam slot Ii so that when a vertical lifting force is exerted on the bar 30 each of the members I2 is moved into the position shown in Fig. I. This causes the transverse members 12 to move relatitle to thnlongitudi'nal member II in a vertical and longitudinal direction. This movement breaks the transverse grids l2 free from the ice block. and the movement of the members causes the ice blocks to be raised therefrom. In the constructibn here shown, the handle member 20, constructed as hereinbefore described, may be placed. adjacent each end: of. thebar 38* and a lifting forces exerted; thereon; If. prererred. however; oneofv the members 20 may be: used. at one end. of. the bar 30 Alsm. it tobe understood: that ifdcsirechhandle members may be attached either to; the bar 33: or to the: longitudinal member. H soas to exert a lifting force on. thebar 39; to cause the actuation of. the grid: as above described.

assembly of. the separate elements to Bonn: the. grid. structure herein showrr may be ecir nomically achieved. on a: mass: production basis by first stamping each. of the; separatelg and treating: the parts, as may be desired;. to pro vide a water repellent.- and motion-resistingsun face. thereon. In atypical instance, the. members L2... L3... and. to will be stamped separately: from aluminum sheet stack andthereafter anodized: and sealed and. treated torender them impervious t-cwater. The-parts: thus treated are much simpler ta process than. is. the casewhen; the parts are. in an; assembled position.

In assembling the, g-rid. the-lower longitudinal member I4 is-pl'aced: inasuitableholdingflxture and the. transverse cross-members I2 are placed in. the slots in the member I41 When this has been; done, the top longitudinal member l-3-- is dropped. into. place and. the: ends of the members is and. it. are.- securecltogether" in anydesired mannensuohl as by the rivets. t5 and- I62 Itwill bBzSGBIL that this method; of assembly lends itselfi to economical, large scale mass'production of the grid element and will;. therefore, effect substantial economies. in the. manufacture andr assemblyr thereof.

Since. the application of force tothe transverse members Htisa lifting-t force, it will beseen-that the; initial movement. of. the: transverse members. [.2 is-irn an inclined verticalrplane; This: causes the. breaking. oi the. grid. members; f-nee from the iceblock and the freeing of the: ice block from the grid and from the pan. The continued apt plication of alifting force. tothe transverse members I 2- causesethem to :moveinthe camslots provided .in thelongitudinabmember and thecam slots direct'the movement in. such away that a: longitudinal: componentmovement' is .imparted tu the transversemembersl2: Tluscausessthedce blocks to be ejected from the grid andithe pam Sincmtheinitial: movementi of the movablettransversemembers: is thus chiefly" i'm an. upward direction, it will: be readily apparent; that the force; remiiredito effecttmbvement of theihdivid transverse gnds when frozen iman ice" bitch is muchiless than. would: benecessary-ii it-were required to move all of the transverse grid members in a direction longitudinally of the pan to effect a movement and breaking of the ice cubes from the pan by the exertion of a crushing or shearing force thereon. The grid of the present invention thus provides for a direct application of a mechanical force on the upper portions of the transverse grid members and the simultaneous application of a downwardly directed force on the longitudinal members. Due to the relatively short levers which are required in the present construction and the direct mechanical application of forces thereto, it will be seen that the conditions responsible for much of the distortion and breaking of parts experienced in conventional types of grid construction are eliminated in a grid embodying the present invention.

In constructing a grid of the present invention, I prefer to use a heat transmitting material, such for example as sheet aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, or the like, the surfaces of which have been treated to render them non-adherent to Water. One satisfactory method of accomplishing this is to subject the parts to treatment in an anodizing bath and thereafter to wax the anodized surfaces. Another satisfactory method is to polish the surfaces and thereafter to treat the polished surfaces with a Water-proofing material such for example as a finish containing a water impermeable plastic substance in which silicon has been substituted for carbon in the molecule, such products are commercially known as Silicone resins, and are available commercially under this name. Such a coating composition is disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 702,498.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the construction herein proposed permits operation of the grid by actuation of any single transverse grid member at any time. This is possible because the initial breaking movement of such grid is in an upward direction which pulls the grid upwardly in the ice block to break the adhesion between the grid and the ice. The ejection of the ice cube follows this initial breaking movement. The transverse grid members are suspended from the end of the handle [9, or from the bar 30, after being broken loose from the ice block. When so suspended they are free to move in response to the action of the cam slots l1 and the follower l8.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a grid construction embodying the present invention may be readily assembled from a plurality of parts, each of which may be separately fabricated. The parts are loosely held in their assembled relation so as to drop into position and occupy a predetermined position in the ice pan. This also permits ready anodizing and sealing of the grid after its complete assembly in those instances where such method is preferred.

I claim:

1. An ice tray grid comprising a longitudinal partition having a plurality of curved cam slots spaced longitudinally thereof, a rigid transverse member mounted in each of said cam slots to permit relative movement of said rigid transverse members both longitudinally and upwardly rela- "tive to said longitudinal partition, each of said transverse partition members having a cut-away portion adapted to receive a force applying member to lift said transverse partition members upwardly of said grid, and a cam follower portion on each of said transverse partition members and adapted to follow said cam slots and move said transverse members longitudinally of said longitudinal partition during the lifting of said transverse partition members.

2. An ice tray grid comprising a longitudinal partition, a plurality of arcuate cam slots spaced lengthwise of said partition, a rigid transverse partition member mounted in each of said arcuate cam slots for movement vertically and longitudinally relative to said longitudinal partition, and a rounded cam follower on each of said transverse partition members and engaging with the arcuate cam slot in which the partition member is mounted and a slotted portion adjacent the upper edges of each of said transverse partition members and overlying the top edge of said longitudinal partition member to receive the end of a force applying member to exert a lifting force thereon whereby said partition member is simultaneously moved both vertically and longitudinally relative to said longitudinal partition. 3. An ice tray grid comprising a longitudinal partition, a plurality of arcuate cam slots spaced lengthwise of said partition, a rigid transverse partition member mounted in each of said arcuate cam slots for movement Vertically and longitudinally relative to said longitudinal partition, and a rounded cam follower on each of said transverse partition members and engaging with the arcuate cam slot in which the partition member is mounted and a slotted portion adjacent the upper edge of each of said transverse partition members and overlying the top edge of said longitudinal partition member, and a bar extending through said slotted portions and spaced vertically above said longitudinal partition to permit the application of a lifting force to said bar and to the transverse partition members to effect a simultaneous vertical and longitudinal movement of said transverse partition members relative to said longitudinal partition.

4. An ice tray grid comprising a longitudinal partition, a plurality of arcuate cam slots spaced lengthwise of said partition, a rigid transverse partition member mounted in each of said arcuate cam slots for movement vertically and longitudinally relative to said longitudinal partition, and a rounded cam follower on each of said transverse partition members and engaging with the arcuate cam slot in which the partition member is mounted, and a force applying member connected with said transverse partition members to lift said members upwardly relative to said longitudinal partition to effect a simultaneous vertical and longitudinal movement of said transverse partition members relative to said longitudinal partition.

CLIFFORD R. CARNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,154,357 Reeves Apr. 11, 1939 2,202,105 Jacobs May 28, 1940 2,226,184 Storer Dec. 24, 1940 2,286,693 Steenstrup June 16, 1942 2,297,558 Hintze et a1. Sept. 29, 1942 2,320,542 Wright June 1, 1943 2,410,292 Kitto Oct. 29, 1946 

